Posted on 03/10/2006 2:17:28 PM PST by Hannah Senesh
British foreign minister says Iran, Israel nukes pose potential threat; Britain seeking nuclear-free Middle East
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said Thursday that Britain wants to see a “nuclear-free Middle East,” saying now that action has been taken against Iraq and Libya, Iran and Israel remain the only two nations posing “potential threat.”
Speaking to Channel 4 Straw said: "If you want to see a nuclear-free Middle East, you've got to remove that threat from Iran, including the rhetorical threat to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Once you've done that, then we can get on to work in respect of Israel."
He added: "We in the international community defend Iran's right to peaceful nuclear power. That is not the issue. The issue is that they have got to bring themselves into compliance with obligations they voluntarily entered into and until they clarify their intentions, we don't believe it is safe for them to have full access to the nuclear cycle.
"It's a very different and separate issue from what the Iranians say, which is that we are trying to deny them nuclear electric power. We are not."
Bush: Iran grave security concern
Meanwhile, President George W. Bush on Friday called Iran an issue of "grave national security concern" and said he wanted a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Bush said U.S. concerns were the result of Iran's stated desire to destroy Israel and the U.S. belief that Tehran wants to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian power generation.
"Therefore it's very important for the United States to continue to work with others to solve these issues diplomatically, deal with these threats today," Bush told a newspaper group.
It is rather naive to think that Israel will EVER give up it's nuclear weapons (if it actually has any).
Speaking to Channel 4 Straw said: "If you want to see a nuclear-free Middle East, you've got to remove that threat from Iran, including the rhetorical threat to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Once you've done that, then we can get on to work in respect of Israel."
I don't take that to mean that once Iran's nukes are gone it's time to disarm Israel. He said you have to remove the threat from Iran, including its rhetoric about wiping Israel off the map, and then "get on to work in respect of Israel," which like i said, probably just means dealing with the Palestinian situation. That said, we'd probably have to see a transcript to be sure.
Like most people with an agenda you are reading what you want to read. Look at this statement:
"If you want to see a nuclear-free Middle East, you've got to remove that threat from Iran, including the rhetorical threat to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Once you've done that, then we can get on to work in respect of Israel."
It seems very obvious to me and everyone else on this forum what Straw was saying.
I'm not in the least surprised by this: it's fully in tune with the current thinking in the UK. The airwaves have been full of programmes in which a supposed double-standard regarding Israel is discussed. The latest wave of protest has come as a result of the revelation that the UK assisted Israel in obtaining nuclear weapons (Britain's "dirty little secret" as one major political magazine put it this week).
Israel is easily the most hated nation in the UK. They wouldn't give two hoots if Israel were wiped out. Not only wouldn't they give two hoots, they'd probably give three rousing cheers.
No group in Britain has been more loyal than the Jews. It's a loyalty that Britain did not deserve.
LOL!! Touche'
BTTT
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